Water softener



Feb. 12I 19x35.l

Filed Jan. 14, 1932 9. AHlwM 1,990,722

WATER soFTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. .12, 1935. Q BASHlQUM l 1,990,722

WATER SOFTENER Filed Jan. 14. 1932 :s sheets-sheet :5

Patented Feb. 12, .193sv is the PATENT .OFFICE .WATER soFrENEn Jacob C.Bashioum, Erie, Pa., assigner to Uniflow Manufacturing Company, Erie,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Appueauon January 14,"19szs'er1al Nn.586,516 1o claim.. (cl. 21o-24) 4 This invention relates to watersofteners. One of the principal objects of the invention provision of awater softener having manual means for initiatingthe regeneratingoperations, and means for automatically effecting the successive stepsof the regenerating operations l and. the return to softening operationaccording to predetermined sequence periods.

Another object of the invention is the provision motor of a watersoftener having an operating for the control mechanism, which motor isactuated by an independent flow of water and is effective to operate thecontrol mechanism according to predetermined sequence periods.

Another object is to provide a water softener controlA mechanism .ofthis character comprising a vacuum motor operated by an independent flowof water and adapted to actuate the valve mechanism of the softener to-control the sequential Aperiods of operationof the softener.

`Other objects and'advantages of the inventio will be -apparent from the`following description, the accompanying drawings,- and the appendedclaims.' y f -In `the drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment ofthe invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a softener constructed inaccordance with. thisV invention;

Fig. cover Fig. of Fig 2 yis a plan view of the softener with theYremoved from the operating mechanism;

3 is a sectional view taken onthel line 3 3 2; f

Flg.'4 isa planviewofthe control unit; z. Fig.-5 s a plan view ofthe,underside 'of the valve Figi.

box;

Fig.` 6 is an end elevational view of the valve...

v7 is a diagrammatic view showingv the 8 isa diagrammatic showing Aof-the valves inlbrine iiow position during the regenerating g cycle; I

` Fig. `9 is a-'diagrammatic showingof the valves cycle.

In the drawings, in

and

inilushing position-durlng the regenerating .Y reference designate like'parts' throughout the several views thereof, the vnumeral 10 designatesa softening tank which contains suitable mineral for the softeningtreatment of water passedA mineral of the tank l0. Mounted on the'tank10 y "isav alve vbox 12 containing cored flow passages which likecharacters' of A 14 of the box 12'and an extending portion 15 of 5 theremovable cover 1'6 of the softening tank 10. Communication between thevalve box and the interior of the softener tank 10 is provided by acored passage 18 in the softener cover 16 that connects through apassage 21 in the extension l5 with a cored passage 22 of the valve boxWithin the projection 14,'and connects at 19 with a soft water pipe 20,Pipe connections to the valve box comprises a hard water inlet 25, apipe to drain 26, and a pipe'27 which leads into the 15 bottom of thesoftener. l pipes there is a tube 23leadingfto fthe"'bttom of the brineYtank/forY withdrawal of regeneratingsolution therefrom, a. tube 29leading to the brine tank for the supply of rellwateigfand a tube 30which connects to a control mechanism' for automatic actuation of thevalves.

The valve box serves as a unit housing for th'e valves that direct theflow through the softener l during vsoftening and regeneration. Theseinclude the valve 32 serving tocontrol the flow of brine from the tank11 to the tank 10, the valve 33- controlling thedirection of owthrouglrthe softener, and the. valve 34 which controls the flow'ofwaterffrom the softener to, drain. 'I'hese valves are of theplunger typeand are urged by means of springs-35 toward the positioninwhich theystand during'softening.

` valvesagain'st the, tension f the springs 35 from 35 .the softeningposition to a Vlatched position to initiatethe regenerating cycle,`andvautomaticallyoperable means are provided to control the return`r ofthese valv to softening position-to provide a regenerating cyclev ofpredetermined duration. As shown, the valve box 12 carries 1 spaced arms37 which support a rock shaft 38 to which an operating lever 39isjiixed. The' free lend ofthe lever formed intoa handle 40 forconvenience of the operator when grasping the lever to move it toinitiate the regenerating cycle. Ashort arm 41, fixed to the rock shaft38, pivotally carries at its free end a pin 42 to which a. yoke 43 isattached which engages andmoves the valves to the. regenerating positionupon movement of the lever'39. Movement of the lever in the reversedirection is prevented by the provision of .a projecting linger 44 onthe lever which overlies the valve box.

The valves 32, 33 and 34 are of'generally sim-` In addition tothesewnn-.

change-over periods in the sequence of operations. The control'mechanismis started by actuation of the handle to initiate the regeneratingcycle.

This positions the valves to permit passage of water through an ejectorthat creates suction for the operation of the vacuum motor by which therack is caused to advance toward the position of engagement with thelatches. The ngers 116 and 120 are positioned on the rack so that thefinger 116 will engage and release the latch Z5 before the finger 120reaches engagement with the latch 70. Thevalve 32, held by the latch 75,

controls brine flow through the softener and is released prior to thevalves 33 and 34 which are controlled by the latch 70 and remain openAthroughout the regenerating cycle.

Movement of the control mechanism is terminated upon release of thelatch 70 which permits the valves to return to softening position andstops the flow through the ejector which provides the driving f orce forthe vacuum motor. This movement of the valves 33 and 34 to softeningpositionalso serves to control the return of the rack 101 to its initialposition so that it is then ready to operate through the nextregenerating cycle. As shown, the block 62 carries a projecting finger167- which is adapted to engage an upwardly projecting pin 168 on theretaining pawl 110. The free end of the arm 98 has a projecting endportion 169 -which overlies the free end of the retaining pawl 110. Uponrelease of the latch 70, and outward-movement of block 62; the finger167 engages the pin 169 and moves the pawl 110 out of engagement withthe rack and into engagement with the part 169 to thereby disengage alsothe pawl 99. Release of the pawls 99 and 110 from engagement with therack permits the spring 107 to return the rack to the starting position.

Each operating part of the softener is provided with actuating means ofample power to assure positive operation at the proper time. The springs66 which close the valves in regenerating position upon operation of thehand lever are strong. The springs35 which close the valves in softeningposition upon release 'of' the latches are also strong enough to insurevalve movement and positive valve closure. The control mecha'- of thisdrive mechanism not only provides an abundance of power to effectpositive release of the latches but it also serves to insure operationof the softener -even under adverse circumstances so that a cycle ofoperation of -predetermined duration is assured.

The positioning of the valves and iiow of water through the softenerduring its cycle of operation is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 7, 8and 9. Fig. 7 shows the valves in softening position during which timewater enters the softener through thehard water pipe 25 and follows thecourse of the arrows through the valve 33 and the pipe 27 to the bottomof the softener whereupon the hard water is treated in its paage upthrough the softener and is discharged into the soft water pipe 20leading to the fixtures served by the'rsoftener. During this time theflow-passage to the control ejector and the passage to the of the brine.

is closed.

The outlet from the softener tank is through a readily removablestrainer that is threaded-ly connected at 126 to a sleeve 127 'which iscarried by ribs 128 from a cap 129 heldto the softenertop by screws 130.To remove the strainer it is only necessary to remove the screws andlift the cap and attached strainer through the opening 132. In place,all water from the softener is required to pass through the strainer asthe sleeve 127 is a close t in the opening 133 consequently the onlypassage to the, cored conduit 18 is' through the strainer and outthrough the openings between the ribs 128, into the passageway 18.Acheck valve prevents flow into the valve box during the softeningperiod when the ow is in such direction that without the check valve thewater would enter the valve box. v

Upon actuation of the lever -39 to move the valves to initiate theregenerating cycle the valves assume the position shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 8 wherein the hard water from the pipe 25 enters the valve 33and from there ows through a passage 138 to an ejector 140 to createsuction in the tube 30 that leads to 'the vacuum motor to the drain pipe26. A separate quantity of water is utilized to actuate the ejector fromthat which `passes through the softener. In this position of 186.Theflow from the ejector 140 leads directly j and from here through apassage 142 to an ejector 143 which connects to the tube 28 extending tothe bottom of the brine tank for withdrawal The brine is carried fromtheejector 143 through a passage 145 into the top of the" softener fortreatment of the mineral. This' passage 145 is in part shown at 22 and18 in Fig. 3. The spent brine passes from the bottom of the' tank 10through'the pipe 27 and out through the valve 34 to the drain pipe 26.During this same time water flowing through the pas'- sage 141 iscarried by the rell pipe 29 to the brine tank to replace that lost bywithdrawal through the pipe 28. A float valve 146 at the end of the pipe29 .controls the maximum level within the tank 11.

Brine is withdrawn through the ejector 143 until the control mechanismhas operated for a sufficient length of time to cause the finger 116 toengage the latch `75 and release the brine valve 32 to stop the brineiow and move the valve to the position shown in Fig. 9 wherein thevalves are illustrated in the flushing position. Here hard water from'the pipe 25 continues to flow through the valve 33 and through theejector 140 as described above. Also, it flows through the pas- I sage141 and through the valve 32. 'I'he valve 32 is now closed to theejector but is open directly to the e leading to the top of the softenerso that'hard water may flow thereinto with resulting overflow. The checkvalve 147 is constructed so that slight leakage is provided to permitsuflicient flow during the Vushing period to completely wash away anybrine contained in the ejector and associated passages forpreventionofcorrosion.therein. Duringthe flushingperiod the controlmechanism continues to operate until the finger 120 disengagesthe latch70 and permits return of the valves 33 and 34 tothesofteningpositionasshowninFig. '1. Ifthe softener is going to besubjected to fluctuating pressures then the general arrangement shown,in which the pressure fluid `that operates the vacuum motor is subjectto the same fluctuations as the pressure fluid that goes through thesoftener, provides for properly proportioned iiow relationship. Duringthe regenerating cycle flow from the soft water pipe back into thesoftener is prevented by the provision of a check valve 150.

In softening pomtion the flow to the vacuum motor ejector 140 is cutoil? as well as the flow to the-brine withdrawal and refill pipes. Also,in this position of the valves the packing around the valve stems is outof communication with any water under pressure as the valves 32, 33 and34 are all closed against openings leading to the packing glands andleakage at the stems is eiectively prevented.

The arrangement of the valve control permits rapid regeneration of themineral. During the period of brine flow the brine valve 32 is posi#tioned so that water entering the tank first passes through the ejector143 for the additionof brine. When this valve 32 moves at the end of thebrine flow period it .provides a by pass around the brine ejector and afree iiow path to thetank 10. During the flushing period hard water maynow freely in large volume through the passages 141 and 145 withouthaving to go through the ejector 143, consequently the flushing out ofspent brine may be eifectively accomplished in but a few minut time.

The ejector 140 that provides suction for operation of the vacuum motor86 is connected directlybetweenthehardwaterinletandtbe drain outlet. Byso connecting the 4ejector for thedrivingmecbanismafreeiiowisassuredandan effective suction is produced regardless of other conditons in thesoftener. lAlthough this wateriswasted,theammntusedissmallasthe iiowthrough this ejector during the cycle amounts to about 30 gallons.

Allpartsofthesoftenerarereadilyle for inspection or replacement. Thecomplete control mechanism is mounted on the softener as aunit;allofitbeingcarriedby thebasemember '93 which is attached to thesoftener by the readily removable screws 151. The complete valve box maybe removed, after detaching the pipes connected to it, by removal of thetwo screws 13. If it is desired to inspect the valves it is onlynecessary to remove the screws 152 which holdv the cap 153 of the valvebox to the body 154 after which the cap with the valves may be liftedoiI. All of the pipe connections to the valve box` are made to the lbody154 and all passages between the valve discs and valve seats 54 are socored in the valve box that all of the exterior connections are made tothe valve box body. Removal of the cap 153 permits inspection of thevalve bodies and associated parts. 'I'he strainer 125, as mentioned, maybe inspected by removal of the screws 130. Access to the check valve 135is through a readily removable plug 156 threadedly mounted in thesoftener top. The complete interior of the 'softener tank is exposed byremoving the cap screws 157.

Adjustment of the softener, such as may be required for varyingconditions of water pressure or of resistance to free flow, isaccomplished by provision of an adjustable needle valve 158 whichcontrols the rate of brine withdrawal, and by adjustment of the screws117 and 121 of the latch releasing mechanism for adjustment of theduration of the brine flow period and flushing period.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis `dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. In a water softener, a plurality of valvesmovable to effect softening and regeneration, means urging said valvesto the position of softening, manual means for moving said valves toin-v itiate the regenerating cycle, means for retainingl directionduring the regenerating cycle toward engagement with the retaining meansfor release of the valve means to softening position, means urging saidmember in the oppomt'e direction, means for advancing said member towardthe retaining means, and means on said valve means engageable with saidadvancing means upon release of said valve means to the softeningposition to move said advancing means out of engagement with said memberfor its movement in the direction ursed.

3. In a water softener, a brine tank,- a softening tank, an ejectoroperable during the regenerating cycle for passing brine from the brinetank into the softening tank, a second ejector, valve means controllingthe fluid flow to said brine ejector and to said second ejector, meansfor moving said valve means to initiate the regenerating cycle andoperation of both ejectors, and means operated by the second ejector toterminate the operation of the brine ejector.

4. In a water softener, a brine tank, a softening tank, an ejector forpassing brine from the brine tank into the softening tank, a secondejector operable during the regenerating cycle, valve means controllingthe iiuid iiow to said brine ejector and said second ejector, means formoving said valve means to initiate the regenerating cycle and operationof both ejectors, vacuum motor means operated by the second ejector, andmeans actuated by operation of the vacuum motor for controlling theoperation of the brine ejector and the duration of the regeneratingcycle.

5. In a water softener, valve means for directing the ow of waterthrough the softener and comprising a valve box, axially spaced seats insaid valve box, a valve, an axially movable valve stem attached to saidvalve and projecting from said valve box for movement of the valve toclosed position against either of said valve seats, spaced projectionson said valve stem, a member slidably mounted on said valve stem formovement between said projections, and spring means cooperativelyassociated with said projections and said member to tension the valve inclosed position against either seat.

6. In a water softener, a valve box for directing the iiow of waterthrough the softener, axially spaced valve seats in said valve box, avalve, an axially movable valve stem attached to said valve andprojecting from said valve box for movement of the Valve to closeposition against either valve seat, spaced stops on said Valve stem, amember slidably mounted on said valve stem between said stops, aspringtensioned between said valve box and said member land vurging saidmember. into contact with one of said stops to tension the valve inclosed position against one of said seats, a second spring tensionedbetween the member and the other of said stops, and means to move themember against tension of the rst mentioned spring to close the valveagainst the other seat by tension of the second mentioned spring.

'7. In a Water softener, valve means controlling softening andregeneration, spring means for said valve means, a manually operablehandle for directly energizing said spring means and setting said valvemeans by manual power to initiate the regenerating operation, andautomatically operable control means effective upon operation of themanual means for automatically releasing said valve means to thesoftening position, said control means comprising motor means, a freelymovable valve releasing bar constantly urged toward an initial positionand movable therefrom to the valve releasing position, a pawl movablelwith the motor means and engaging said bar for intermittent advance fromthe initial position, a holdying pawl engaging said bar against returnto the initial position, and means on the valve means engageable withsaid pawls toward the end of the valve movement to softening position torelease said pawls for return of said bar to initial position.v

8. 'In water softening apparatus, the combination comprising a tank forwater softening ma.- terial, a receptacle for a regenerating solution, asupply conduit for-water under pressure, a system of conduitsinterconnecting said supply conduit, receptacle, and tank for conductingwater and the regenerating solution to said tank and then to waste,control means for directing a. fio'w oi water from said supply to thetank for softening, for directing a flow of regenerating solution to thetank, and for directing a flow of waterto said tank for flushing out theregenerating solution, a conduit for conducting a separate flow of.water from said pressure supply to waste, said separate ow beingproportional to the iiow -through the softening tank during regeneratingactuated by said suction to operate the said control means to regulateregeneration, flushing, and restoration of the system to permit watersoftening operation, and means movable to initiate the regeneratingoperation when the softening material has been used to a point whichmakes its regeneration desirable.

9. In a water softening apparatus, the combination comprising a tank forwater softening material, a receptacle for a regenerating solution, asupply conduit for water under pressure, a system of conduitsinterconnecting said supply conduit, receptacle, and tank for conductingwater and the regenerating solution to said tank and then to waste,control means for directing a flow of water from said supply to the tankfor softening, for directing a fiow of regenerating solution to thetank, and for directing a ow of water to said tank for flushing out theregenerating solution, a conduit for conducting a separate ow of 'waterfrom said pressure supply to waste, said separate iiow beingproportional to the iiow'f through the softening tank duringregenerating and flushing operations, an ejector responsive to saidseparate ow for creating suction, an air motor actuated by said suctionto operate the said control means to regulate regeneration, ushing, andrestoration of the system to permit water softening operation, and meansmovable to initiate the regenerating operation when the softeningmaterial has been used to a point which `makes its regenerationdesirable.

10. In water softening apparatus, the combination comprising a tank forWater softening material, a receptacle for a regenerating solution, asupply conduit for Water under pressure, a systemvof conduitsinterconnecting said supply conduit, receptacle, and tank for conductingwater and the regenerating solution to said tank and then to waste,control means for directing a ow of water from said supply to the tankfor softening, for directing a ow of regenerating solutionv to the tank,and for directing a now of water to said tank for i'iushing out theregenerating solution, a conduit for conducting a separate flow'of waterfrom said pressure supply to waste, said separate iiow beingproportional to the ow through the softening tank during regeneratingand ushing operations, means responsive to said separate flow forcreating suction, an air motor actuated by said suction to operate the-said control means to regulate regeneration, ushing, and restoration ofthe system to permit water softening operation, and manual means movableto initiate the regenerating operation when the softening material hasbeen used to a point which makes its regeneration desirable.

JAcoB c. BAsHIoUM.

